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Punjab Kings remain second in IPL 2026 despite a 33-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Cooper Connolly’s 107 off 59 balls became a historic IPL milestone as the youngest overseas centurion. PBKS management praised team spirit under Ricky Ponting and now look to regain momentum in upcoming Dharamshala fixtures.

Hyderabad: Punjab Kings (PBKS) continues to maintain its position among the top contenders in the IPL 2026 standings, currently sitting in second place with 13 points after a high-scoring encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Although the result favoured the hosts in a 33-run victory, the fixture provided a significant silver lining for the side through young Australian Cooper Connolly, who became the youngest overseas player to score a century in IPL history.

Facing a challenging target of 236 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, the Kings showed resilience following a difficult start to the innings. Connolly anchored the chase with a determined 107 off just 59 deliveries. His performance, which included seven boundaries and eight sixes, saw him surpass a decade-old record held by Quinton de Kock to claim the milestone at just 22 years of age.

Reflecting on the historic knock, spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule highlighted Connolly’s exceptional temperament and the bright future he holds within the franchise.

“He is somebody who is very positive and he’s a great potential, definitely. He’s got a good head on his shoulders and he’s a total team man,” Bahutule said. “To see an overseas player at that age come and adapt to different venues and pitches in India so quickly has been fabulous. Even when it felt like a losing cause, he made sure the momentum stayed on to see how close we could get.”